Chapter 36: First Quest

Words : 1003 Updated : Sep 12th, 2025

Chapter 36: First Quest== Quest Title: An Arcanist's Humble Beginnings Act 1: Novice Gatherer Gather the following: Garbird Prime Feather - 0/3 Arcroot Vine - 0/5 centimeters F-ranked Arcane Core - 0/1 Reward: 5 Chaos Points Act 2 - [Locked] Act 3 - [Locked] == Hal gazed at the information window in front of him with a hint of intrigue. He wasn't too impressed at the rather stingy rewards, but the title and the quest itself seemed interesting. Plus, he could complete it on the side while increasing his wizard rank from F to E, making the boring task of completing fifteen F-ranked quests way more fun. It was only noon. He could still complete at least one of the quest requirements, perhaps two if he's lucky and managed to finish one early. Making a few preparations, Hal strode out of his room, his sack bag slung over his right shoulder. But after taking around a hundred and fifty steps from his room's entrance, a sudden, blinding green light captured his attention, prompting him to look at the source. It was from a slightly opened dormitory room door. 'Just a peek...' Hal felt like a sneaky rat, but curiosity got the better of him, and he still ended up peering through the gap. His eyes widened when he realized the source of the green light. 'Arcane Rune!' Unfortunately, he couldn't watch for long, as the young man suddenly turned around and grabbed the towel behind him, wiping his face. Hal recognized who the man was: Kraisel, the student with no artifact. Pressing on and proceeding to the Mission Hall, he couldn't help but doubt Kraisel's seemingly bleak future. It was a widely-known fact that like talent in learning spatial and void magic, not anyone can harness the power of runes, much less make it materialize as though it was solid matter. 'None of my business, though...' If Kraisel's future isn't as gray as it appeared, then good for the poor guy. Hal shifted his attention back to his quest of gathering three materials for a measly five points. He arrived at the Mission Hall around thirty minutes later, picked out a Garbird Hunting Mission that required him to retrieve the creature's sharp beak, and registered it under his name. He then left as soon as the mission was assigned to him. Preoccupied with his thoughts, Hal failed to notice that there was a bespectacled, green-haired young man trailing and observing him from the shadows. The three-star student only stopped and turned back once he left the academy grounds. Hal didn't immediately leave the city, though, stopping by the public library first to study Garbirds using the Manatech Computers, asking the staff members for assistance. Unlike Blue-hide Boars, the lethal-beaked avians weren't too common. Sёarᴄh the nôvel_Fire.ηet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. He didn't even know where to find them. To his surprise, the darned things lived in swamps. Hal couldn't help but frown. Swamps were dangerous biomes, home not only to horrifying creatures that specialized in traps, cunning, and ambush but also to carnivorous plants. He would have to be careful, especially since he's a newbie to wilderness survival. 'Maybe I should invest a few academy credits and attend such classes...' Hal mused. After taking note of the Garbirds' characteristics, possible nesting and hunting spots, along with the other creatures he might encounter in the process, Hal sincerely thanked the kind and patient staff member who helped him navigate the peculiar and complicated machine and left the public library. 'Swamp...huh...' As per the map in the library, the closest one was around seven hours away by donkey cart. Unfortunately, his estimates of finishing one or two of the quest requirements in a single day were quickly proven impossible. Hal knew he couldn't neglect learning the system's functions and benefits. So, although it seemed more efficient to simply stay at the academy and meditate in the Mana Meditation Hall while looking for chaotic situations with his Spirit Sparrow, he chose to invest time in improving his utilization of his power's bread and butter. 'Two months... If completing system quests is still far less efficient, then I'll go back to meditation and meddling...' He only had eight months to prepare for the Arcana Primis Cup, after all, so he couldn't afford to stick with inefficient methods. At least not until the tournament is over. Exiting the city, Hal headed to the nearest town, where he could ride a cheaper donkey cart to Rampar Town—a settlement half an hour away from the Ulwick Swamp. The ride was a bit bumpy, as the cart was attacked three times by three, mana-berserk arcane beasts. But the low-tier wizard guard was far stronger than the creatures, so Hal didn't even need to offer his aid in fending them off. The cart arrived half a day later at the Rampar Donkey Exchange Terminal. The biting darkness of the night had already veiled the entire world, however, so Hal could only rent a cheap room at a local inn and rest early. It would be extremely dangerous for a novice wizard like him to dare venture since the stronger monsters and beasts were more active at night. Still, he slept surprisingly soundly. Came morning, Hal stretched, hopped out of bed, washed his face in the small, dirty bathroom, and ate a decent meal at the inn's eatery before leaving the establishment and Rampar Town, heading with a serious gaze towards his destination, where many residents and novice wizards who dared enter, were never able to return. It was him, his determination, and his trusty sack bag. Half an hour later, he stopped walking and looked at the muddy ground, then at the white-leaved mangroves in the distance. He had arrived at the Ulwick Swamp.

Chapter 36: First Quest

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